Reef-Pi Aquarium Controller

Dewd

Dewd

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Everton - Durban
Hey All

Has anyone built an Aquarium Controller using the Reef-Pi Platform? It runs on a Raspberry Pi and seems to be modular and quite powerful. Also, unlike some other similar DIY projects I have seen on the net, this seems to be well supported and currently updated.

I need to replace a TC420 LED controller and am thinking this might be a better idea in the long term. It has the ability to control lights, dosing, wavemakers, ATU, temperature etc, etc.

More info is available here https://reef-pi.github.io/

There is a long thread on it at https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...tank-controller-based-on-raspberry-pi.289256/

Check it out and let me know what you think.

I'm seriously considering this option and it would be cool if a couple of us travelled this route at the same time - bought components together and built together.
 
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I am keen, need to control my zetlight.

The AR200 and conroller will probably be priced the same, but that can only control the lights.
 
It might be a bit tricky to control the Zetlight, but I', only guessing here. You would need to isolate the "channels" or colours from each other, but controlling the whole light as one for brightness should be easy.

My thinking is the same. This will be more expensive than a new TC 420, but be able to do lots more/ It will have the functionality of a TC421 at least, plus +++
 
Update.

I've got a Raspberry Pi running with Reef-Pi installed and a bank of 8 relays connected. I have got to grips with the thing and can control a lamp (my test item) with from my phone, tablet or laptop.

I'm going to start connecting stuff on my tank and getting it working in the next couple of days.
 
I'm also busy designing my circuit for my reef-pi project. Once I have finalised the design the fun will begin. The only issue I have with using a Pi is the limited IO on the Pi itself, but that can be easily overcome with expander cards. I will start my own thread once the project is underway. Hope some of you will be able to help when I get stuck.
 
Just for everyone's benefit here, Reef-Pi can at present do the following :

  • PWM control of dimmable LED's
  • Temperature measurement and control
  • ATO
  • Power switching of equipment.
Coming in the next few months will be :
  • Dosing
  • PH monitoring
Pretty exciting stuff.
 
So, here we have it sports fans.

My Reef-Pi set up an an old PC tower case. I would have liked to use the PC power supply, but the one I had was poked. So its a bit messy as far as power management goes.

So far I have the following up and running :-
  • Return Pump
  • Wavemaker
  • Skimmer
  • Refugium Light
  • ATU using Optical Sensor
  • Temperature Probe and control of :
    • Heater
    • Fans for cooling
I'm just figuring out how to control my LED lights via PWM and that will come next. I'm also nearly ready to set up port forwarding so that I can view and operate the system from anywhere. At present it is only available on my home network. My IT nerd will be sorting that out for me soon. Well, before he's allowed to drink beer at the braai. Incentivise :m06:

I'm very happy with the setup.

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So far it's working very well. I've ordered a couple of peristaltic heads and another temperature probe so that I can dose and have a room temperature as well (just because I can).

I'm not so sure I want / need PH monitoring - the PH probes are the most expensive thing on the whole system. I don't check PH now, so why bother?

I'm very keen to set up a webcam so that I can see the tank whenever I want though.

I'll post some pics of the UI soon.
 
Some UI pics

ATO usage. You can see I started doing kalkwasser at 10h00, so the ATO hasn't had to to up since then.
PNG image 1.png


The heater usage in minutes per hour. You can easily see how it died during the day as it warmed up. You can also see when I turned the pumps off when I fed.
PNG image 2.png


The equipment status. As you can see I screenshotted this off my phone.

PNG image.png
 
What's really impressive is how easily and cheaply this can be set up. If you compare it to some of the proprietary products out there.
 
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